Automatic street-indicator for electric railways.



N0, 849,276. PATENTED APE. 2, 1907.

E. M. SMITH, A. M. KEMP E J. E. TITZWATEE. A AUTOMATIC STREET INDICATOR EOE ELECTRIC EAILWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.23,1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATBNTED APR. 2, 1907. ITZWATER.

AE. M.`SMITH, A. M. `KEMP & J. E.*P AUTOMATIC STREET GTRIG RAILWAYS. 1905.

INDICATOR POR BLE PPLIOATIONFILED Nov. 2a

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 street entre srnrns narnnfr ortica.,

ERIC M. SMITH, ALBERT M KEMP, AND JOSEPH E. FITZVATER, OF DENVER,

COLORADO. 4 I

No. 849,27e.

Specification of Letters Patent.

atented April 2,l SO'Y.

"To all 'wh/0721, it Mtn/.1 concern:

Be it known that We, Emo M. Snrrn, AL- BERT M. KEMP, and Josnrn E. FirzWA'rnR, citizens oi the United Statesg `,residing at Denver, in the county'or1 Deliver and State of Colorado, have invented newy and useful Automatic Street-indicator for Electric Rail- Ways, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention comprises a rotating cylinl carrying hingedL skeletogi leaves to hold i n ted cardboarl signs and ictuated by a positive ratchet mechanism having an automatic reversing device.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby a passenger may at any time by a glance at the indicator learn the name of the next street, and thus be prevented from passing his destination. We attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichh Figure l is a cross-section ot the machine on line 2 2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a full-sized end View of one of the hinged card-carrying skeleton leaves. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine on line 1 1 of F ig. 1, parts being 'removed for the sake of clearness of illustration. Fig. 4 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction opposits that shown in Fig. l and with the card-carrying leaves removed for clearness. Qiig. 5 is a view of the trolley attachment .looking along the trolley-Wire; Fig. 6, a side view of the same, and Fig. 7 a detail oi the circuit-closer hereinafter dgescribed.

.Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the severai views.

The frame of the rotatable card-carrying mechanism comprises a pair of disks E i,

apertures uU,

havin` hubs F and J with axial scacec apart by and threaded-into the tube ifi. The axis of this frame is a shaft (omitted.

in the figures for the sake ,of clearness ci illus' tration) resting in bearings Z, attached to the main trame of the indicator.

The disks E I are each provided near their eripheries With a series of equallyspaced lioles adL ted to receive the ends of the rods Whic i carry the skeleton ieaves A, in which are inserted cards bearing the desired designations. These leaves are stamped from suitable sheet metal, as steel, and each folded or `pressed round its pivotrod O, so as to rotate therewith. Near that I near its periphery.

. end of each rod C which is designed to pass through the disk E. is firmly attached a fork B, and these forks may be. iongitudinali'y spaced on the rods in sets of'three or more, as shown at the left of F ig. 3, so asnot to interfere when oscillated, as shown at the junction ofthe position-planes 2 3, Fig.

As 'the leaf-carrying frame is given estepby-step rotation in either direction by means hereinafter described, the forks B are adapted to engage a stationary rpin D to give to the name-cards the successive ositions 2 3 e, Fig. l, or vice versa, accoring to the direction of rotation. The pin D has a head adapted to be adjustably held by a screw G in a slot in the lug VV in the main frame.

The ratchet-Wheel K is fredly attached to the disk I by the hollow screW-l'iub J and is adapted to be given ament in either direction by the reversible pawl NT, mounted on the oscillating lever M, which is pivoted on the threaded sleeve' or ivot R. The pawl N is attached to lever I by a screwpivot O and has `in its broadened upper end two conical recesses T, each adapted to receivel the coned end 'of a in P, which passes through a. sleeve n near treueN por end of the lever M and is yieldingly held in one or the other of the recesses T by a spring n.' By this construction the pavvl is held in driving contact with the ratchet'n Wheel K, but may be automatically reversed' by means which will new be described.

The threaded sleeve or pivot it secures the forked or three-armed lever L ooaxialll 't the lever M, but in such manner that they may oscillate independently about Each 4 step-by-step moveof thc three ends of L is bont at right angles` to its arm, the two upper ends 'l'or the purpo of contacting with the beveled ends ot gv, l N to reverse it at the proper time and the lower end to contact with m, inserted-in one of a series of holes r, provided in the dst:

One such pin, sho 1n Fig. 4, may be permanentiy secur Ad disk at a oint correspondingto the card or frame which marks the beginning ot a route,

while a second pin may be removably inserth ed in any hole 'I' that may be necessitated by lthe number of cross-streets on the route.

The actuating means for the lever M comN prises a curved softqron core Q, secured to ILOG one side of its upper end and a tension-spring i secured to the opposite side and having frame.

A s ring-dog Y holds the Wheel lliv stationi ary curing the backward or non-driving swing of 'lever M, and suitably-positioned stop-pins may be provided on each side of the lever M to limit its throw.

The means for exciting the solenoid are shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7. The trolley- Wheel a is mounted in a fork or casing l), attached to the trolley-pole c in the usual mannier. A member of conducting material, preferably copper, is mounted in a boss g by means of washer i and bolts i i, the parts f and g being suitably insulad from each other. A Wire is inserted in hole Z in the inner end of f, is clamped therein by screw Jr, and passes thence down the trolley-pole, being suitably insulated therefrom, and thence to one terminal of solenoid X, the other terminal of the solenoidbeing connected'to the railsor other return in any desired or Welll lrnewn Way.

. @n the trolley-Wire j at the far side ofeach street-crossing is clamped a contact c, of conducting material, preferably copper, by means ol the member d and fastenings g. The

above-described means are preferred for usc with overhead systems but it will be readily understood that other means for exciting the solenoid at predetermined points may be substituted therefor either in overhead or underground systems.

The operation of the indicator is as follows: As the car approaches a street-crossing the. name of the intersecting street will be visible to the passengers through a glazed opening opposite the card shown at 3, Fig. l. As soon as the intersecting' street has been crossed member f strikes one of the contacts c, exciting' solenoid X, attracting` Q, and swinging lever M to move Wheel ii one notch or to retract the lever, so that it will be in position to actuate l by the oull of spring Y as soon as the circuit throng 1 X is broken, according to the position oE the pawl N, as will be readily understood. rl`his swings an adjacent indicatingdeaf to the v osition 3, where it remains to the end of e look. lliis opl eration is repeated until the end of the line is reached, when, having been properly adjusted for the route, the pin 'in engages the reversing-lever L and reverses the pawl N by pressing the inturncd end ot one of the upper arms of thc lever L against thc beveled surlace ci the pawl N, thus depressing this end of the pawl, rotating it about the pin o to disengage the spring-pin l? from one of the conical recesses ,'.l and scat it in the other of said recesses. The ol her upwardly-pn)jacting arm ol the lever l) is by` this movement swung awaf l rom the opposite end ol'A the pawl N to permit that end to rise from the periphery of the ratchetzevheel K. The cardcarrying cylinder is then rotated in the op-` posite direction, and the naines oi thev streets appear in reverse order until the other end of the line is reached. been adjusted for a speciiied route the operation of the indicator is entirely automatic.`

The advantages of our invention areas follows: First, by the use of our skeleton leaves the indicator may be used on any line in the city by simply changing the signs to correspond With the cross-streets in this line, or by loosening two thumb-screws the entire instrument, Which is easily carried, can be lifts" After the pins fri havev considering the Work done, is easily adjusted,

and cheap in cost.

Aside from the indicator itself an entire l system can be prepared for its user with a very small amount of labor and expense. y

Many changes' may be made in our indi.

cater by the skilled mechanic without dearting from our invention', since What We claim is- 1. In a street-indicator, a rotatable cylin der, a plurality of signs pivotally mounted s thereon, means for giving said cylinder a step-by-step movement to display said signs s'uccessively'and automatic means for 1e versing the direction of the cylinder movement.

2. ln a street-indicator, a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of signs pivoted to said cylinder, means for advancing said signs succes= sively to display position and means 'for reversing the direction of rotation of said cylinder to move said signs to display position in reverse order.

3. ln astreet-indicator, a rotatable mene ber, a plurality of sions pivotally mounted thereon, a ratchet-vv eel secured coaxially with said member, a fork mounted on the pivot of ,each sign, a4 stationary member adapted to engage said 'forks and display signs successively in either direction of movement of said member, an integral, double-ended pawl for driving said ratchetu Wheel in either direction, and means for automatically reversing the driving position oi' said pavvl.

4. ln a strcet-indicator, a reversible ro* tatablo cylinder, a series of signs pivoted near the periphery ol said cylinder, forks pivotcd coaxially with each of said signs, al

' reversing the driving v a predetermined point.

either direction of rotation of said cylinder,` r'

and a single, reversible driving means fol" driving saidcylinder in either direction.

5. In a street-indicator, a'rotatable cylinder, a plurality of signs pivotally mounted thereon, a ratchet-Wheel mounted coaXially with said cylinder, an integral, double-ended pawl for driving said wheel and cylinder in either direction and means for automatically position of said paWl at i' 6. In a street-indicator, a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of signs ivoted thereto, reversible ratchet-and-pm A mechanism for intermittently rotating said cylinder, electrically-operated means for oscillating said pawl mechanism, means for closing the circuit of said electrically-o erated means at predetermined points, an means for automatically i reversing said paWl mechanism.

7. In a street-indicator, a movable sign- )carrying member and actuating means there.

for, said means com rising an oscillating lever, a pawl'carried t ereby a spring adapted todrive said lever and slgn-carryino` member in one direction, a solenoid adapted to drive said lever and sign-carrying member in the opposite direction, means for passing a current through the solenoid-Winding at predetermined intervals, and automatic means for reversing' the pawl carried by said lever.

8. In a street-indicator a rotatable signcarryin member and actuating means therefor, sai meanscomprising a pawlf-lever, an integral, double-ended pawl thereon, a solenoid-core mounted on an extension of said lever, a circuit comprising the Winding of said solenoid andfertendmg ironia feedmain to a return, `contacts removably mounted on the feed-main and arranged to close the circuit through said solenoid, a

. s ring connected to the lever and adapted to ive said lever and rotate the. sign-carrying member when the s olenoldcircuit is broken andvautomatic means i'or reversing the driving p osition of sald paWl.

carrying member and actuating means therefor, said means comprising a reversible ratchet-Wheel, a lever carrying an integral, 'double-endedpawl arranged to engage said Wheel, a 'spring-dog for holding saidwheel during the non-driving movement of said pawl, means for` oscillating said lever, and

9.' In a VSstreet-indicator, a movable signautomatic means for reversing the driving position ol said paWl.

10'. In a street-indicator, a movable signcarrying member and actuating means there--A for, said means comprising a reversible ratchet-Wheel, a lever-carrying an integral, double-ended pawl arranged to engage said Wheel, a spring-dog for' holding said Wheel during the non-driving movement of said paWl, and automatic means for reversing the driving position of said pawl vat predetermined intervals.

11.A A street-indicator comprising a rotatable cylinder, a plurality of pivoted skeleton leaves mounted adjacent to the periphery of said cylinder, a fork pivoted coaxially With each of said leaves, an adjustablymounted stationary pin positioned to engage said forks successively, a ratchet-wheel mounted coaxially with said cylinder, an oscillating lever having an integral, doubleended awl mounted in operative relation with said Wheel, a three-armed lever having two of its arms positioned to reverse the driving position of said pawl and a plurality of.

pins removably mounted in said cylinder and arranged to engage the third arm of the three-armed lever to actuate said pawl at predetermined positions of said cylinder. 

